By Fraser Fletcher, Transfer Correspondent

21st Jul, 2023 | 2:13pm

Sources: Rangers in advanced talks to sign Jose Cifuentes

Rangers are closing in on a deal for Jose Cifuentes after holding further talks with Los Angeles FC, sources have told Football Insider.

The 24-year-old midfielder is a top target for the Glasgow giants, and all parties are getting closer to a deal after holding discussions over Cifuentes’ exact release fee.

Football Insider understands that both clubs are now in advanced talks and a total agreement is now close.

Cifuentes’s contract with the MLS side is set to expire in December, and he has already agreed personal terms with Rangers.

Football Insider first revealed Rangers’ interest in Cifuentes back in April, when the Ecuador international was also a top target for Premier League and La Liga sides.

Leeds United and Espanyol have also shown interest in the young midfielder, but Rangers are now the firm favourites to land him after a breakthrough in talks earlier this month.

In the 2023 season, Cifuentes scored twice and assisted five times for LAFC in 26 appearances, helping Los Angeles up to second in the Western Conference.

He first moved to the American side in 2020 and has since made a total of 121 appearances across all competitions, scoring 15 times from midfield.

Cifuentes has also been a regular squad member for Ecuador since his first call-up in 2019.

He has made 16 caps for his country, including two appearances in the 2022 World Cup last winter.

Should Cifuentes complete a move to Ibrox this summer, he will be Michael Beale’s seventh signing of the summer and his ninth since being appointed as manager last year.

In other news, Rangers set to finalise £15m triple swoop in ‘amazing’ spree – expert